Container closing apparatus



0. BJERING ET L CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS June 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed May 15, 1958 L mwH m WEN o mvfi m do a;

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1958 Q OLAVBUERING BY cJOI-IN Ham. 421/061 ATTOR June 28, 1960 o. BJERING ET CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUSFiled May 15, 1958 4 Sheets-{Sheet 4 5 6L N H R um Hm mww A Md KEYUnited States Patent 942,394 coNTAmnR CLQSINGLAPBARATUS Qlav Biotin;andaJohn. "Holil; .Toledopflhio, :assignors to owensdllmoisGlassflnnrmnnacorporation of Ohio Z1he,,-present:;invention136121.126St:1010.$i11 apparatus tor bottles :and jars :and particularlyV to, means. for .afliXi g screw'ethreaded :closure. .caps. to=product1fi1 led openvtop containers" ,while rthey samovencontinuously-along a :horizontalspathz,

objector our invention is :the provision of novel meansfOE'ithITQfidiflgwfilGSlllf-i lQZIPSt'URQH! bottles and jars int-suchfashion that tthfiy twill? attractively seal the containers, yet. :can tbe a removed T-zbY ithe ultimate consumer WithQut-rthd:difliCllltifiSiSDoften: attendan op ning of jar having :screwethreaded closure. cap s.-

rrAnother :objeetmf :our ,i uvention .isit provision of simpl a:ettective means for -.t;hread.iug selosure caps uponibottles' and hrsin which such 1111,6335 comprises closure :capuspinningqrolls ztcrengagngth th ead a taching: :sltirt .ofi 31116::11QS11T6 cans-and novel meanstor regulably' controlliing; the; int; ping; pre sureof the roll:wherebvtopredeterm .eatoiar atistactory degre the tightnessworathe-applijed caps.

A further objector our invention i the provision of novel -.me.ans. foradjusting; the. elevation of the operati g nositiouof thespinningirollsas r qu red y varia i ns in therheight-of the-containersbeingzfiapp r o d h IherlflllS: can :be set accurately for ,..,mosteffective contact Withithe iclosllre cap skirt. 7

It is also an object of our invention to providenovel meansdjoradjusting the: operating position of the closure captspinningrolled-Brittle :means -;fo,r. transmitting power to the- Spinning;rolls. a

Qther objects :w illbe in Part-apparento-and in partointedgout.hereinafter. t t i g :Fig; -l is-=a front \elevational.viewiofaa closnrei cap. applying machine incorporating our invention.

Fig, ,3 is ,a. transverse sectiDnalrelevational view talce nsubstantially along the line .3-,-3 of ,Fig. ,1. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional elevational vievy. of-the meanssfor adjusting-the angular position of the spinning rolls. 1 a v j Fig.5 is 'a sectional elevational view maisonette: tially along theline.5-,5Jof Fig.- 1. Fig. 6 is. a view schematically {showing rollsadjustment. I

-Eig. 7-isaplan view. schematically showingtwo possible. operatingpositions of the spinningtolls intended to vary. the closurecapgripping-tefiectiveness.

fIheiIlu-Strated embodiment ofourtinvention isshown in operatingrelationship toa horizontal continuously moving conveyor upon which.jars -16 or the like p oductafilled containers travel through theclosure cap receiving and applying zones '17 and .18, :respectively(Fig; 11:). The jars-have exteriorly screwdhreaded necks 19 which aredesigned to accommodate.;screw=thi:eaded closure caps-20 such caps beingpicked,fromthedischarge end of aninclined; cap chute .21-or'1e atatimefbyhthe jars as .they move pastj the i chute. These ,closure capsquickly the spinning 2&42394 Patented June 28, 1960 Briefly theapparatusis a self-contained unit capable of placement in an operating positionrelative to a packers conveyor line and incorporating means whereby itmay easily-be adjusted to the conveyor height and width, as Well. astohandle bottles or jars varying height and/or diameter. The apparatusincorporates closure cap spinnin-g; rolls which at least partiallythread closure caps upon. the containers thereby lowering the caps to alevel at=whichthey may be engaged-by secondary or tightening rolls.These rolls are carried by means through which adjustments as requiredby jar or bottle height antl di-ameter variations may be effected. Alsothe rolls are angularly adjustable and thereby provide for asocalled"fine adjustment of the pressure of the rolls upon the. closurecaps. Further the apparatus includes means for eifectively holding-thecontainers against rotation as they travel along the conveyor andadditionally secure them in normal upright positions to receive closurecaps.

Specifically the apparatus comprises a horizontally elongated main frame25 positionedin part alongside the conveyor 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) andprovided exteriorly of the side wall 26 facing the conveyor with avertical slide 27 on which a slideway 28 carried by a sub-frame 29 isadjustable vertically. This sub-frame 29 includes a bar 30*.whichis.suitably connected to adjusting means including a. hand-wheel 31 .-forchanging the elevation of this. :frame as conditions require' Twolongitudinally spaced supports in the form of horizontal rods 32 arecarried by the bar 30 and extendacross the conveyors-15 for supporting apair of horizontal platforms 33 which in turn carry the aforementionedclosure cap spinning rol-lsiiandothers as will be apparent presently.These platforms :33 ar'etelongated in the direction of'the length ortheconveyor .15. and-near their ends are provided withsleevesl34-whichare .telescoped over and ,slidable along therods32.Thus, the platforms 33 are capable of'beingapplied.

he 'm hanisnrlfor moving the platforms toward and 'away frornlea'chother may comprise adjusting rods 35 individuallo and disposedimmediatelyl beneath and pardrop over the jar necks and are momentarilysupported allelato the ,subeframe supporting rods 52. Each such rod 35,intermediate its ends,,is journaled in a bearing 36. on .the lower sideof ,a center bar 37 being locked therein: against-axial movement byretaining devices 38. Each .end portion of the adjusting rod 35 isthreaded through aiperipherally channeled collar 39 which has separableconnectionwith a flange 40 depending from one of the sleeves 34.A.retaining block 41 secured in place. byscrews 42i holds the collar39in assembledrelationship to the sleeve 34. One end of each rod.i35 has asquare, extension 35 to accommodate a turning implement (not shown) ofsome sort While the other end ofeach rod-carries asprocket wheel 43;These sprocket Wheels are connected together'by a sprocket chained-sothat with rotation of either rod both will beactuated'and therebyefiectcorresponding adjustment of ==both ends-of the platforms. 33. Suchadjustment, as stated heretofore, changes the spacingbetweenthespinning'rolls2 3. In addition to the pair of primary spinning rolls2'3,

carrier 49 is mounted.

T. 2,942,394. 1 p p We have shown two pairs of secondary or tighteningrolls 23 and 23 which are spaced longitudinally from the primary rolls23. These secondary rolls normally oper ate at a slightly lowerelevation than the primary rolls for the reason that the closure capswill have been moved downwardly on the containers by the threadingaction of the primary rolls to a level requiring the illustratedpositioning of the secondary rolls (see Fig.1). Since the mountings forthe primary rolls 23 are identical structurally, we will specificallydescribe only one of them. At that end of each platform 33 (Fig. 4)nearest the cap chute 21 is a horizontal arm 45 formed with a verticalopening 46 therethrough. Spaced laterally inwardly from this arm 45(Fig. 2) is a bearing 47 for a horizontal hinge pin 48 (Figs. 3 and 6)upon which a spinning roll This carrier (Fig. includes a dependingtubular housing 50, a concentric internal sleeve 51 having each of itsends abutting the inner ring of a ball bearing 52 and an axiallyrecessed shaft section 53 which extends upwardly through the carrierwhere it is connected to a driven pulley or sheave 54. This shaftsection 53 is .journaled in said bearings 52 and at its upper end issecured in a thrust bearing 55 which holds it against axial movement. Atthe lower end of this shaft section is a split lock collar 56. Throughthe lock collar and into the axial recess 57 in said shaft section aportion of a lower shaft section 58 extends, the upper end of the latterbeing threaded into said recess whereby to provide for adjustment of thelower section axially relative to the upper section 53. Thus theoperating elevation of the closure cap spinning roll 23 may be varied asconditions require. The lock collar 56 functions in the customary mannerto secure the lower shaft section against undesired rotation relative tothe other section 53. In addition to the described axial adjustment ofthe roll supporting shaft the angular position of the roll may bevaried.

Such variation in the roll position is obtainable by means including apair of rods mounted in the carrier. One rod 59 is threaded verticallythrough the carrier 49 and has its lower end contacting the'arm 45 or ahardened block 60 thereon. By adjusting this rod axially the capspinning roll may be moved for example in the fashion indicated in Fig.6. This rod serves as a stop for limiting inward movement of the rollstoward each other. Thus we provide fine control of the operatingpositions of the rolls 23. The second rod 61 is threaded vertically inthe carrier 49 and extends downwardly through an justed and the capskirt gripping pressure of the 'rolls regulably controlled. 7 g

The mounting of the secondary or tight'ening'rolls 23'? and 23 issubstantially identical with that described in connection with theprimary rolls 2'3, the only exception being that the housings 50 extendthrough vertical openings 50 provided in the platforms 33.

' Rotation of the pulleys 54 or sheaves at the upper ends of the rollcarrying shafts (Figs. 1 and 2) is obtained by means of an endless belt54 trained over said pulleys and idler pulleys 64, the latter beingcarried by horizontal adjustable slides 65. A pulley 54 is connected toa gear box 54, a shaft 54, and power transmitting means 54 to a motor M.Automatic tensioning means 66 (Fig. 2) for'the drive belt comprises ahorizontal bellcrank lever 67 having a belt engaging pulley 68 at oneend and a spring device 69 at the other end which constantly yieldinglyholds the pulley 68 in contact with the belt. It is apparent that withadjustment of the spacing between the platforms 33 the slides will bemoved and the angle between the arms of the bell-crank lever 67 mayrequire re-s'etting to obtain the desired tension in the belt 54 V Y Itis important that the bottles or jars 16 be held against tipping androtation in order to insure both delivery of closure caps thereto andlater threading of the caps onto the containers. To this end, we providea pair of continuously traveling endless belts 70 one on each side ofthe conveyor 15. These belts are of substantial height (Fig. 5) toinsure effective gripping of the jars at diametrically opposed points.Obviously these belts move in the same direction and at the same speedas the conveyor 15. They are mounted upon supporting frames 71 which areadjustable relative to each other in a direction transverse to thelength of the conveyor to accommodate containers of different diameter.Such adjustment is obtained by suspending the frames from a pair ofhorizontal supporting rods 72. Sleeves 73 at the upper end of hangers 74are slidingly positioned upon the rods 73. These sleeves are connectedto threaded adjusting screw-rods 75 which are journaled in bearings 76and held against axial movement therein by collars 77. Arms 78 on thesleeves have the rods threaded therethrough. Sprockets 79 at one end ofthe rods are connected together by a sprocket chain 80. Thus rotation ofeither screw-rod 75 will serve to adjust the steadying or gripping beltcarrying frames relative to each other as may be required by the warebeing handled.

Although the mode of operation is deemed obvious and perhaps adequatelydescribed in the foregoing, it briefly comprises placement ofproduct-filled containers in upright position on the conveyor 15 inadvance of the cap chute 21. These containers move in succession beneathand remove threaded closure caps from the chute, such caps at this timedropping by gravity and thereby becoming partially telescoped over thescrew-threaded necks of the bottles or jars. The leveler 22 temporarilysupports the closure caps 20 spaced a short distance above the top endof the jars while the primary closure cap spinning rolls 23 grip the capskirt and impart rotary motion to the cap. As this occurs the leveler 22moves downwardly permitting actual partial or complete threading of thecap onto the container. The container with the closure cap at leastpartially threaded thereon then moves on to the secondary rolls 23 and23 which, if the cap is insutficiently threaded onto the jar, completesthe operation. 7 p

The jar gripping means, as stated, may be adjusted to accommodatecontainers of different diameter. The platforms which carry the severalspinning rolls are adjustable to change the spacing between the rollsasmay be needed to apply closure caps of different diameter. Adjustment ofthe roll carriers 49 relative to the arms 45 therebeneath also changesthe angular position and transverse spacing of the spinning rolls. Axialadjustment of the shaft section 58 which is directly connected to therolls serves'to regulably control the operating elevation of the rollsas is needed when the jars vary in height.

' Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

.1. In container closing apparatus, a horizontal continuously movingconveyor for carrying product-filled containers having exteriorlythreaded necks through adjacent closure cap receiving and applyingzones, closure delivery means in the receiving zone operable to onlypartially telescope screw-threaded closure caps over the threaded necks,means for rotating the telescoped closure caps to thereby completelythread them upon the container necks, comprising, a pair of yieldableresilient closure cap spinning rolls positioned one at each side of thepath of travel of the containers, said spinning rolls having their axesnormally substantially parallel and extending generally vertically, apair of shafts coaxial with and supporting the spinning rolls, saidshafts aligned with each other in a direction transverse to the lengthof the conveyor, a horizontally movable slide supporting each shaft anda spinning roll, a horizontal rod upon which the slides aremovableaxially to vary the spinning roll spacing, means for moving the slidesand rolls horizontally toward and away from each other, a horizontal armprojecting from each movable slide beneath the corresponding beatingcarrier, a screw-threaded rod extending vertically through the arm andcarrier near the free end of the latter, said rod threaded in thecarrier and freely movable axially through the arm, yielding means onthe rod below said arm for urging arm and carrier together, and anadjustable stop for limiting relative movement of the arm anterior inone direction.

2. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rollsspaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal pathalong which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necksand screw-threaded closure caps partially telescoped thereover movecontinuously, said spinning rolls rotatable about vertical generallyparallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading them upon thejar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardlytherefrom,a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot extending horizontal- 1ysubstantially parallel to said path, an arm to which one end of thecarrier is pivoted and yielding means urging the arm and carriertogether comprising, a screwthreaded rod threaded through the carrierand freely slideable through the arm, spring means on the rod and thatside of the arm remote from the carrier, means for adjusting the rodaxially to vary the spring tension and the pressure of the rolls uponthe closure caps and adjustable stop means for predetermining theintermost positions of the rolls.

3. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rollsspaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal pathalong which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necksand screw- 6 V threaded caps partially telescoped thereover movecontinuously, said spinning rolls being rotatable about ver; ticalgenerally parallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading themon the jar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardlytherefrom, a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot thereofextending horizontally substantially parallel to said path, meansproviding for axial movement of said shaft in its carrier to therebyadjust the operating level of the corresponding closure cap spinningroll and releaseable means for locking the shaft in any axially adjustedposition.

4. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rollsspaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal pathalong which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necksand screw-threaded closure caps partially telescoped thereover movecontinuously, said spinning rolls being rotatable about verticalgenerally parallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading themupon the jar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardlytherefrom, a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot extendinghorizontally substantially parallel to said path, a rotatable sleeveextending vertically in each carrier, each said shaft being threadedaxially into the sleeve whereby rotation of the shaft relative to thesleeve adjusts the operating level of the corresponding closure capspinning roll and releasble lock means for securing the shaft againstindependent bodily movement relative to the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,664,514 Kramer Apr. 3, 1928 2,596,408 Johnson et a1. May 13, 19522,734,672 Day et a1. Feb. 14, 1956 2,758,434 Johnson et a1. Aug. 14,1956

